The Ukrainian President will give a speech to UK MPs in the House of Commons tomorrow (March 8) in what has been billed as a "historic address". Volodymyr Zelensky will speak to the house via video link, it has been announced.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he granted the request for Mr Zelensky to read a statement to the House of Commons at 5pm, where he will address the Russian invasion of his country. It's believed Mr Zelensky may take the opportunity to ask for more arms following the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin's Russian forces and renew demands for the implementation of a no-fly zone to stem the Russian attack.
Sir Lindsay told PA: “Every parliamentarian wants to hear directly from the president, who will be speaking to us live from Ukraine, so this is an important opportunity for the House. Thanks again to our incredible staff for working at pace to make this historic address possible.”
There will be no questions to Mr Zelensky, who is reportedly at risk of assassination by pro-Russian groups in Kyiv, at the end of the address. Formal parliamentary business will be suspended while MPs watch Mr Zelensky on screens installed overnight above either side of the Commons chamber.
More than 500 headsets will be made available to enable MPs to hear a simultaneous translation in English, but there will be no questions at the end of the address. It comes a week after Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK was given a standing ovation and cheered loudly by MPs as he watched Prime Minister’s Questions in the house on Wednesday, March 2.
Vadym Prystaiko sat in a side gallery in the chamber and received applause for almost a minute after Sir Lindsay announced he was in attendance.
Sir Lindsay said: “Your excellency, we generally do not allow applause in this chamber, but on this occasion the House quite rightly will want to demonstrate our respect and support for your country and its people in the most difficult of times.”
